There is a flip side to all the hideous NFL teams this season: There is a depth of quality teams too. Playoff races in both conferences are packed near the top, and more than 10 fan bases - maybe 14 - have legitimate Super Bowl hopes. It sets up for a highly entertaining playoff chase as the calendar turns to November. Before looking ahead, lets look back on some of the standouts and lowlights from the season's first half.

Coach of the First Half
1. Sean Payton, Saints: Motivational gambits are overrated. Getting receivers wide open isn't. Four years into his New Orleans tenure, Payton is clearly the dominant offensive mind in the game.

The team's roster continuity is one of its greatest strengths. The players all know the system, and even stars such as Marques Colston are ultimately replaceable if necessary. Their fourth wide receiver - 2008 first-round pick Robert Meachem - contributes. Reggie Bush is essentially the team's third running back, and that's just fine.

That Payton gave up part of his salary to help hire defensive coordinator Gregg Williams puts him over the top. Consider this a vote for the entire Saints coaching staff. This is the best Saints team in franchise history.

2. Josh McDaniels, Broncos: Denver's disappointing loss in Baltimore doesn't change what McDaniels has accomplished. The offense remains a work in progress, but they have been excellent at situational football and the team doesn't beat itself. That's coaching.